Boris Johnson has won the race to become London's mayor.
The floppy-haired Conservative beat rivals Ken Livingstone and ex-police commander Brian Paddick to the City Hall job, after the London went to the polls yesterday.
Mr Livingstone failed to be re-elected, after serving eight years as mayor.
After months of campaigning final opinion polls suggested it would be neck and neck between the two men - the tightest since the position of mayor was created in 2000 - with Liberal Democrat challenger Mr Paddick trailing behind.
Mr Johnson's win followed the trend of local elections results across England and Wales, which saw support for Labour slump dramatically and a surge in popularity for the Tories.
His victory also rounded off a perfect night for the Tories who also held the three south-west constituency seats on the London Assembly.
The result was announced at City Hall just before midnight when the 53-year-old MP for Henley and former editor of The Spectator magazine was declared London Mayor.
Turnout for the election was about 45 per cent - up from 36.95 per cent in 2004, with Mr Johnson winning 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966.
What do you think? Will Boris be a good mayor? Post your comments below.
11:59pm Friday 2nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Les, Sutton on 2:44am Sat 3 May 08
Thank goodness Livingstone the tyrant and dictator is gone. Let's hope this is an end to the relentless draconian taxes and fines regime, especially aimed at the motorist, that has made trying to live and work in London a financial and psychological nightmare.
Thank goodness Livingstone the tyrant and dictator is gone. Let's hope this is an end to the relentless draconian taxes and fines regime, especially aimed at the motorist, that has made trying to live and work in London a financial and psychological nightmare.
Posted by: Blarney Stone, Sutton on 7:40am Sat 3 May 08
Oh joy, oh joy! The Red looney-tune is gone. Well done London but why did it take you so long?
Oh joy, oh joy! The Red looney-tune is gone. Well done London but why did it take you so long?
Posted by: Maninblack, Surrey on 8:38am Sat 3 May 08
Great not only is the Lib Dem circus running the council.
We now have a clown running London.
Great not only is the Lib Dem circus running the council.
We now have a clown running London.
Posted by: Sarah, SW London/Surrey on 8:49am Sat 3 May 08
well, if he truly wants to be in touch with what the people feel & want - He can contact me, I am happy to let him know (see my other posts on this site). BUT I bet he wont because I am not PC enough! LOL
well, if he truly wants to be in touch with what the people feel & want - He can contact me, I am happy to let him know (see my other posts on this site). BUT I bet he wont because I am not PC enough! LOL
Posted by: Mr Paddick, London on 10:47am Sat 3 May 08
It shows the amount of resentment people feel for Livingstone that they would vote in a buffoon like Johnson.
It shows the amount of resentment people feel for Livingstone that they would vote in a buffoon like Johnson.
Posted by: Tommmmm on 3:15pm Sat 3 May 08
Now that Ken Livingston has gone, what is Nick Booth going to complain about now in his columns? Ah yes, ethnic minorities, young people, homosexuals, and pretty much anyone else who gets in his way.
Now that Ken Livingston has gone, what is Nick Booth going to complain about now in his columns? Ah yes, ethnic minorities, young people, homosexuals, and pretty much anyone else who gets in his way.
Posted by: Kes, Upper Norwood on 8:43pm Sat 3 May 08
Perhaps now we will have someone who truly represents council-taxpayers. Another 2 years to get rid of Brown, though!
Perhaps now we will have someone who truly represents council-taxpayers. Another 2 years to get rid of Brown, though!
Posted by: Anne Wotana Kaye, London on 8:55pm Sat 3 May 08
Thank goodness that little bigoted man has gone! Wanted to write something nasty, but remembering Boris's gracious acceptance speech, I'll just say Boris, seems bright, intelligent and of good heart. I wish him success in bringing back the London we once knew.
Thank goodness that little bigoted man has gone! Wanted to write something nasty, but remembering Boris's gracious acceptance speech, I'll just say Boris, seems bright, intelligent and of good heart. I wish him success in bringing back the London we once knew.
Posted by: omar, chaos city on 10:08pm Sat 3 May 08
A sad day for our London / Venezuela partnership, Hehe!
Will Ken's tube adviser who say's he doesn't do anything still get his £2million?
Lets hope Boris can halt london's criminal friendly, drug friendly, gang friendly, chav friendly descent into chaos!
A sad day for our London / Venezuela partnership, Hehe!
Will Ken's tube adviser who say's he doesn't do anything still get his £2million?
Lets hope Boris can halt london's criminal friendly, drug friendly, gang friendly, chav friendly descent into chaos!
Posted by: c may, biggin hill on 10:16pm Sat 3 May 08
aughing my socks of boris is greener then ken the c charge still will function and boris will bring in public transport roads only into london
aughing my socks of boris is greener then ken the c charge still will function and boris will bring in public transport roads only into london
Posted by: BlueBoris, London on 1:31am Sun 4 May 08
Never mind Ken. I'm sure your mate Castro would offer you a job in Cuba - minister of propaganda? - if you asked him nicely.
Or perhaps Chavez could make you minister for oil production. I'm sure lots of people would have a collection for you to pay for your flight ticket (one way of course!)
Please disappear for good....
PS Boris: please try not to screw things up!
Never mind Ken. I'm sure your mate Castro would offer you a job in Cuba - minister of propaganda? - if you asked him nicely.
Or perhaps Chavez could make you minister for oil production. I'm sure lots of people would have a collection for you to pay for your flight ticket (one way of course!)
Please disappear for good....
PS Boris: please try not to screw things up!
Posted by: Graeme on 9:13am Sun 4 May 08
A sad result. I used to think Boris was funny but this is a serious business and I wonder how long it will be before he falls on his face, to our cosat.
A sad result. I used to think Boris was funny but this is a serious business and I wonder how long it will be before he falls on his face, to our cosat.
Posted by: james, sutton on 9:34am Sun 4 May 08
Ken is only for certain minorities and not for all Londoners and finally the average english working person has spoken. Tired of Kens self serving dictatorship that threatened the very identity of london. He chipped away at peoples pocketbooks via transport prices without making it any safer, took away many of the London icons and damaged the skyline with additional ugly glass modern buildings. Cost each and every one of us tons of cash so he could entertain fellow dictators, fly over to visit warlords (green issue??), and stole public money to put into his private purse. Ultimately his arrogance, specific racism towards certain allies, and total lack of humility and humour cost him and I for one am glad that the average guy let him know this through the votes. We're not all hippie- broken family- layabout- benefit sucking- just off the boat -politicaly correct -twenty something office guy with no life experience -tree huggers who want our money spent on the out of date Olympics instead of real problems like yob crime. A lot of us are traditional middle working class families who are sick of being the forgotten ones until they want our taxes.
Ken is only for certain minorities and not for all Londoners and finally the average english working person has spoken. Tired of Kens self serving dictatorship that threatened the very identity of london. He chipped away at peoples pocketbooks via transport prices without making it any safer, took away many of the London icons and damaged the skyline with additional ugly glass modern buildings. Cost each and every one of us tons of cash so he could entertain fellow dictators, fly over to visit warlords (green issue??), and stole public money to put into his private purse. Ultimately his arrogance, specific racism towards certain allies, and total lack of humility and humour cost him and I for one am glad that the average guy let him know this through the votes. We're not all hippie- broken family- layabout- benefit sucking- just off the boat -politicaly correct -twenty something office guy with no life experience -tree huggers who want our money spent on the out of date Olympics instead of real problems like yob crime. A lot of us are traditional middle working class families who are sick of being the forgotten ones until they want our taxes.
Posted by: dave, croydon on 4:54pm Sun 4 May 08
I see my comments have been removed, so big brother is still here
I see my comments have been removed, so big brother is still here
Posted by: Queenie, hendon on 6:44pm Sun 4 May 08
Well Said James, couldn't put better myself. It is always best to hear the truth instead of loony left spin!
Well Said James, couldn't put better myself. It is always best to hear the truth instead of loony left spin!
Posted by: ivan, slovakia on 7:41pm Sun 4 May 08
I will miss my free ride on bendy bus much. bring back Ken to make easy my life london in.
I will miss my free ride on bendy bus much. bring back Ken to make easy my life london in.
Posted by: Marco, Croydon on 8:58pm Sun 4 May 08
Hurrah for Boris! I'm sure he will make a great part-time mayor. Will he be taking 50% of the mayor's salary though?
Hurrah for Boris! I'm sure he will make a great part-time mayor. Will he be taking 50% of the mayor's salary though?
Posted by: Kes, Upper Norwood on 10:42pm Sun 4 May 08
[quote][bold]Maninblack[/bold] wrote:
Great not only is the Lib Dem circus running the council. We now have a clown running London.[/quote] What would you call the shower 'running' this country? Trouble is that we've got to wait 2 more years to get rid of them. Unless so-called Labour MPs think more of their country than their jobs.
Maninblack wrote:
Great not only is the Lib Dem circus running the council. We now have a clown running London.
What would you call the shower 'running' this country? Trouble is that we've got to wait 2 more years to get rid of them. Unless so-called Labour MPs think more of their country than their jobs.
Posted by: Kes, Upper Norwood on 10:50pm Sun 4 May 08
Having said that, even I felt a wee bit of sympathy for poor Gordon, as he did the round of the TV studios, today. Come on Gord- call it a day- surely you can't be enjoying your job?
Having said that, even I felt a wee bit of sympathy for poor Gordon, as he did the round of the TV studios, today. Come on Gord- call it a day- surely you can't be enjoying your job?
Posted by: jalexis, putney on 1:55am Mon 5 May 08
How lucky I feel today, not only do I live in The Conservative Borough of Wandsworth, but we now have a Conservative Mayor of London. Apart from the fact that Boris is a breath of fresh air - why are we supposed to feel guilty because he went to Eton, has a wicked sense of humour, and is definitely a good old typical English eccentric. We've been so bogged down with gloomy socialist politicians for the last few years (why do these people appear so serious and depressing like its a crime to feel happy and smile) you just have to look at Ken Livingston to see what I mean. The first thing Boris should do is get rid of sir Ian Blair, Livingstons lackey, and bring in a Police Chief who is serious about solving the crime of this once great City, zero tolerance is the only way. I would like to see Boris and his new Police Chief back councils like Wandsworth who have been at the forefront in trying to combat the problem of youths roaming around with their pitbull type dogs attacking people and other pets. Forget all this politically correct rubbish and get on with the job. Wandsworth Council did listen and acted upon the problem, but still more needs to be implemented. I clearly remember writing in one of my previous comments that it was us, the decent law abiding constituents that are their voters, and not the useless scumbags that roam the streets making life hell for the rest of us. I think the election of Boris has proved my point.
How lucky I feel today, not only do I live in The Conservative Borough of Wandsworth, but we now have a Conservative Mayor of London. Apart from the fact that Boris is a breath of fresh air - why are we supposed to feel guilty because he went to Eton, has a wicked sense of humour, and is definitely a good old typical English eccentric. We've been so bogged down with gloomy socialist politicians for the last few years (why do these people appear so serious and depressing like its a crime to feel happy and smile) you just have to look at Ken Livingston to see what I mean. The first thing Boris should do is get rid of sir Ian Blair, Livingstons lackey, and bring in a Police Chief who is serious about solving the crime of this once great City, zero tolerance is the only way. I would like to see Boris and his new Police Chief back councils like Wandsworth who have been at the forefront in trying to combat the problem of youths roaming around with their pitbull type dogs attacking people and other pets. Forget all this politically correct rubbish and get on with the job. Wandsworth Council did listen and acted upon the problem, but still more needs to be implemented. I clearly remember writing in one of my previous comments that it was us, the decent law abiding constituents that are their voters, and not the useless scumbags that roam the streets making life hell for the rest of us. I think the election of Boris has proved my point.
Posted by: tonyb, Sutton on 3:41pm Mon 5 May 08
Now all we have to do is get rid of the worst Government in history,the loony majority running Sutton Council, vote in a UKIP Government and things wil start to look up at long last.
Now all we have to do is get rid of the worst Government in history,the loony majority running Sutton Council, vote in a UKIP Government and things wil start to look up at long last.
Posted by: Norman, Longrove on 1:32am Tue 6 May 08
I agree with jalexis, zero tolerance thats what we need, just string up the youths from lamposts and have done with it. Bring back the birch and a nine o'clock curfew. Armed troops on the streets and arrest and imprisonment without trial. These simple, common sense measures would return our country to the great nation it used to be. Zeik Hail ![bold][bold]bold[/bold] [/bold]
I agree with jalexis, zero tolerance thats what we need, just string up the youths from lamposts and have done with it. Bring back the birch and a nine o'clock curfew. Armed troops on the streets and arrest and imprisonment without trial. These simple, common sense measures would return our country to the great nation it used to be. Zeik Hail !
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